MINT INDIAN BISTRO: Introducing white guys to delicious food.

I’m from a small town in the midwest and until very recently there was absolutely no ethnic food of any kind in the area. It was fairly typical fare and it wasn’t until I really came to Vegas that I got used to all the amazing flavors that exist outside of America. Even when I traveled, I mainly tried to stick with things I knew. However, my friends were big fans of a place called Himalayan Cuisine. I really had no idea what it would be like, but they told me it was Indian food. Having never tried it, I pretty much only had pop culture references to what Indian food smells like in my head. Luckily for me, they took me to what would now be one of my favorite local restaurants. A few years later, they changed the name to something a little more apt: Mint Indian Bistro.

Mint is open 7 days a week from 11 AM to 11:30 PM, with lunch being a buffet. Their buffet might actually be the best value for lunch in town at $13; the variety and overall quality of food is amazing for a buffet and it probably has to do with new food coming out every minute or two due to the volume of food being eaten. For this review, I went for dinner. But the buffet is probably in my top 3 best values in Vegas.

If you are looking for a place to take your vegetarian or vegan friends, YOU HAVE FOUND IT. There is likely no better restaurant in town for a vegetarian who still wants a table full of delicious food.

Mint Indian Bistro – Dal Soup

I usually stick with the curries when I eat here because every single one I’ve had is great, but I was with a few friends who enjoy getting things that I very rarely try so it was a good opportunity to show off the variety of things here. The Dal is a very tasty lentil soup. They have 3 or 4 soups and this one happens to be my favorite. There isn’t much to say about it other than it being just a very solid lentil soup with Indian spices.

Mint Indian Bistro – Gobi Chilli

The Gobi Chilli is cauliflower in a chilli sauce that their menu says is Chinese inspired. I can see what they’re going for, but to me it is very much Indian in the way it’s seasoned. This dish with chicken is one of my favorite buffet dishes they serve, but the cauliflower is actually a very good substitution and adds a contrast in texture that I liked quite a bit.

Mint Indian Bistro – Pav Bhaji

The Pav Bhaji is the one dish that was ordered that I just don’t really understand. Buttered hamburger buns served with red onions, cilantro and a vegetable puree. It’s very acidic which helps cut through the richness of some of other dishes, but I feel like this is the most forgettable of the food I tried here.

Mint Indian Bistro – Samosa Chaat

The Samosa Chaat is certainly one of the most visually impressive things I’ve been served here. The flavors meld really well together, but the texture seems a little off. It’s soft on soft, usually a bad combination, and it’s also too moist for me.

Mint Indian Bistro – Dosa

Dosa is a large crepelike pancake stuffed with spiced potato and served with several different kinds of chutney. Many people order the Dosa and I will say that the potato, spiced as it is, is very hearty and pretty good substitute for a meat.

Mint Indian Bistro – Murgh MakhaniMint Indian Bistro – Mango Paneer

The curries really are my favorites though. Probably their most famous dish among my friends is their mango curry. I’ve never heard of a mango curry anywhere else, but the owner/manager Kris is very proud of this menu item. It’s a mango twist on a masala sauce, sweet and savory but mostly just boasting a huge amount of mango flavor. Definitely a must have if you are here for dinner. The last dish is my personal favorite, butter chicken. It’s a very traditional tomato curry and chicken thighs (the way it should be). Spoon this over some rice and forget about your troubles for an hour.

Mint Indian Bistro – Garlic Naan

Naan is the perfect way to mop up the extra curry and sauces leftover. They make an extremely photogenic garlic naan.

Having never had ‘real’ Indian food in the UK, this is as good as it gets in Vegas I think. I may revisit Mint for some photos of its famous buffet but either meal is excellent. 3 healthy appetites ate dinner for $120 with several dishes not being finished.

JIMMY’S NOTE: Mint has opened up a brand new location in addition to their former spot. The new place is huge and beautiful and boasts the same great menu.